Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-05-2023

Warm weather last week helped open up some waters and road ways. Increased flows are closing other waters. This week’s cooler weather and snow flurries have slowed down the snow melt. Lake resorts and lodges are starting to clean up this winter’s snow fall in preparation to open. Be patient as it is taking time for the Eastern Sierra to open up. Even though it’s May on the calendar it’s acting more like March or early April. Midges and blues wing olives are providing insects for the trout to feed on. Funniest thing from opening weekend is boats showing up to Crowley Lake clueless that they could not launch their boats.

Thirteenth annual Fish Camp held at Bishop City Park where 6 to 12 year old’s get introduced to fly fishing.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flow in the lower Owens River continue running at 750 CFS and are expected to peak at over 1,000 CFS in June. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed at Pleasant Valley Campground. Chalk Bluff is closed west of Five Bridges Road at the chalk bluff. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is open on the north end with access from Gorge Road into Gorge Power Plant. Fly fishers fishing lots of weight, several AB split shot, are getting their flies on the substrate and catching trout. I would use extreme caution when walking the banks of the river as there are lots of eroded banks just waiting to break away.

From Pleasant Valley Reservoir to Pleasant Valley Campground there is no angler access to the river.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access to the creek is still over the snow. With the cooler temps the snow melt slowed down. Blue wing olive mayflies are providing action as they hatch mid-day. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 sparkle duns and size 18 olive quilldiogons are fooling the wild trout.

Access to Hot Creek Canyon is still over the snow..

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers still have to walk over the snow to get into the canyon. This weeks cooler weather slowed down the snow melt. For those fly fishers putting in the effort to access the creek in the canyon it is producing wild trout on nymphs. Olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and brassies are fooling the trout.

Most of the snow has melted from the banks of the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The snow is pretty much gone on the dirt road leading into the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing. The road is supper muddy and it will be easy to get stuck even in four wheel drive. The cutthroats are not in yet, but this is the time of the year I start heading out to the river looking for them. There are a few trophy brown trout being caught.

Wild brown trout and stocker rainbows are taking nymphs under an indicator for Nate Ostrander.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Nate Ostrander fished the canal middle of the day catching browns and rainbows on blue wing olive nymph patterns fished under an indicator. Now that the canal is open to any method of take it’s getting lots of fishing pressure. Nymphs are producing trout fished under an indicator or with a Euro outfit.

Pine creek continues to be a spot to fly fish before the snow melt blows out the creek.

Pine Creek Weir:

Pine Creek is flowing relatively clear and the trout are feeding on midges and blue wing olive nymphs. Fishing under and indicator or with the Euro nymph rig is producing lots of fish for anglers fishing middle of the day.

Owens River

In the Gorge:

Flows are increasing making fly fishing tough. If flows exceed 540 CFS the gorge will get shut down again.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-28-2023

Opening weekend is this Saturday April 29, 2023. This is an unprecedented opener with most still waters frozen and lots of snow from the 7,000 foot level and up. I post holed through the  snow and it reminded me how much I dislike post holing in the snow. Runoff is not expected to peak until mid-June through July. For now the spring creeks and freestone creeks are producing trout when nymphing. Access is limited on a lot of waters. Putting in a closed road section for this report so fly fishers will know what waters are accessible. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are providing action for fly fishers.

Road closures and frozen lakes like Crowley Lake is going to make for a very limited opener for fly fishers.

Road Closures:

Access is limited as a number of fly fishing spots are closed due to snow or road closures. Hot Creek Hatchery Road is closed at the end of the plowed area. There is room for two vehicles to park off the road. Anglers are going to have to park on the road. Be aware that you cannot park in front of Hot Creek Ranch’s drive way. Benton Crossing Road is closed at Browns Campground entrance. There is room for six vehicles to park off the road at the entrance to the dirt road going upstream on the upper Owens River. Gorge Road into Control Gorge Power Plant will be opening up on Saturday. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed with a gate at Pleasant Valley Campground. Chalk Bluff Road is closed at Five Bridges Road. Most roads above 7,000 feet that fly fishers use to access lakes are creeks are closed due to winters snow pack.

Hot Creek Hatchery Road is closed at the private driveway into Hot Creek Ranch. Do not parking in front of their driveway.

Benton Crossing Road is closed at Brown's Owens River Campground. Do not park in front of their driveway!

Gorge Road into Control Gorge Power Plant will open on Saturday morning to allow access to Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed at Pleasant Valley Campground.

Chalk Bluff Road is gated and closed at the begging of the up and over or the chalk bluff on the east end of the road.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Access to the river is closed during this springs snow runoff. The river is flowing at 750 CFS and is expected to peak at over 1,000 CFS. For now the lower Owens River is unsafe to fly fish. Please stay off the river during runoff for your safety.

High flows makes the lower Owens River in the wild trout section unsafe to fly fish and access is closed at Pleasant Valley Campground. and at the Five Bridges Road end .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers will have to park on the side of Hot Creek Hatchery Road and walk into the creek. Soft snow means you will be post holing through six inches to three feet of snow. This is one spot that is offering decent to good fly fishing with nymphs and dries. Blue wing olive patterns and midges are what the trout are feeding on.

Fly fishers have to walk into the canyon section through soft snow. Please do not park in front of Hot Creek Ranch’s driveway.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

For fly fishers in good shape willing to put in the effort of hiking through the soft snow they will find wild trout willing to take their flies. Nymphing with size 20 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 22 midge patterns in zebra or tiger coloration are fooling wild trout.

High water and soft snow makes fishing the upper Owens River tough right now.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Benton Crossing Road is open to Brown’s Owens River Campground. Post holing through the soft snow is something I despise as I find it wears me right out. The river is high and off color. There is lots of water flowing into the river from the meadows. There is a lot of algae floating in the river that is catching on the flies. This is definitely a spot to be wearing your waders. Only fished a short section directly above Benton Crossing Bridge with no success.

Bishop Creek Cana is off color, but is producing trout for fly fishers nymphing.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Nymphing is producing trout for fly fishers plying the waters of Bishop Creek Canal. It got stocked with hatchery rainbows on Wednesday. The water is up and off color, but this is not stopping the trout from feeding. With this being one of the few fly fishable spots in the Eastern Sierra there is lots of fly fishing pressure. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and size 20 midges in tiger or zebra coloration are producing trout. I’m fishing an indicator about six feet above the bottom fly with a BB shot for the weight.

Fishing the Euro rig is producing wild brown trout at the weir on Pine Creek.  

Pine Creek Weir:

Pine Creek above Rovana is producing fish with the Euro rig. The olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and hot spot pheasant tail nymph is producing trout. My first cast the other day was a wild brown trout. Five casts latter I had another one. Fishing under an indicator make sure you are 1.5 to 2 times the average depth of water. I’ve been running the indicator six to eight feet above the bottom fly.

Bishop Creek

In the Foothills of the Owens Valley:

Fishing in and around the College area has been producing wild brown trout on nymphs and streamers. This is a good place to pull a size 10 or 14 wooly bugger. Nymphing with the Euro rod and an indicator is producing wild brown trout to 14 inches. The fish are taking midges and blue wing olive nymphs in sizes 18 to 22.

Learning how to properly handle trout is a great lesson for catch and release fly fishing on Bishop Creek.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-21-2023

Warm weather is settling into the Eastern Sierra as we approach opening of Fishing Season. Most high elevation waters continues to have snow and little to no vehicle access. Runoff has not affected the freestone creeks yet. They’re continuing to produce trout for fly fishers fishing with nymphs. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching on some Eastern Sierra waters.

Fishing the weir at plant 6 on Bishop Creek is producing wild brown trout in the clear water on nymphs.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The lower Owen River is up to 750 CFS and is unsafe and too high to fish right now. Chalk Bluff Road continues to be closed. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed for repair work to the access road along the reservoir.

Unstable banks and high flows makes the lower Owens River in the wild trout section unsafe to fly fish.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

For fly fishers willing to hike out to the creek a mid-day blue wing olive hatch is bringing trout to the surface. There is still a lot of snow to contend with. This is one of the few classic fly fishing spots accessible to fly fishers right now.

Fly fishers can drive out Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access Hot Creek at the interpretive site and park at the end of the plowed section of the road.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This is the longer hike to get to the creek, but it’s the easier hike. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout actively feeding on dries and nymphs. I like to use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes or olive sparkle duns. For nymphs I’m using olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Vehicles no longer have to stop at the Green Church, but now have access to the dump.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Benton Crossing Road is closed at the dump. Fly fishers I finding few trophy trout as the bulk of the rainbow run is over for the season. The cutthroats should be in the river starting in early May. I start looking for the run around the 5thof May. Once the snow has melted the dirt roads will be muddy and I would drive with caution out there. I don’t want to get stuck out there again.

Mike Kavanaugh of Fullerton learned how to fish nymphs under an indicator on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The water is high and off color. There are a few trout rising in the afternoons to blue wing olive mayflies. I’m fishing with nymphs on the Euro rod and I have clients fishing nymphs under an indicator. The trout are taking hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. I expect this section of the canal to get stocked between now and opening weekend.

Nymphing under an indicator on Pine Creek is producing wild brown trout.  

Pine Creek Weir:

Pine Creek is flowing clear and the trout are feeding on midges and blue wing olive nymphs. Fishing under and indicator or with the Euro nymph is producing lots of fish for anglers fishing middle of the day.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-14-2021

Spring has sprung in the Owens Valley. Upper Elevation waters are slowly unthawing. Predictions are just that, a best guess of what is to come. Crowley Lake, Convict Lake and June Lake loop are snowed in and slowly melting. From past experience the lakes are one or two good windstorms away from being fully open. The next two weeks will be the deciding factor. I’ll be updating the waters as things open up. For now the freestones, canals and Owens River Gorge are offering fly fishing opportunities. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on them. Section 5.85 in the fresh water regulations allows for catch and release lures or flies in almost all moving waters from November 16, 2022 to Friday April 28, 2023. Check sections 7.40 and 7.50 for specific closed waters.

Widgeon ducks are still in Bishop Park waters which means spring is not yet hear as the ducks always leave in the spring.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows of 725 CFS and Chalk Bluff Road being closed on both ends rules out fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed for repair work on the access road along the reservoir.

Lower Owens flows will stay in the 700 CFS range for summer as runoff continues.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Still the tougher spot to access the creek. Getting over the berm and through the snow is tough. There is a blue wing olive hatch in the early afternoon that is worth fly fishing. I’m using size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns.

There is still a lot of snow that needs to melt off before fly fishers can  access Hot Creek with their vehicles.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

It’s a longer walk into the canyon than the Interpretive Site, but snowmobile tracks makes it an easier walk in. Easiest access point is at the Forest Service bathrooms by walking down the paved road. Due to thermal activity along the creek there are several spots without snow. Working the pools and open water during the hatch with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns is fooling the wild trout. Nymphing before or during the hatch with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons is producing wild brown and rainbow trout. If you’re looking for a trophy Hot Creek trout try throwing big articulated streamers that imitate small brown or rainbow trout.

Vehicles no longer have to stop at the Green Church, but now have access to the dump.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The road is now open to the dump. A few anglers have been walking into the upper Owens River and catching a few trophy rainbow trout. I do not target actively spawning trout on their redds. I like to target the trout resting and feeding in the deep pools, runs and cutbanks. I occasionally fish egg patterns, but I find that size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs fished on the Euro rig or under an indicator produce a lot of trophy trout for me. I will start looking for the cutthroat trout run in the upper Owens River starting around the 5th of May. This run is usually over by Memorial Day.

I’m finding it difficult to catch wild and stocked trout in the fast water sections of Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

I’ve been doing well fishing the slower sections of Bishop Creek and Bishop Creek Canal. There is a blue wing olive hatch going on in the early afternoon that the trout are feeding on. Have not seen enough rising trout to get me to fish a dry fly for these trout. Using the Euro rig with an olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and hot spot pheasant tail nymph, my normal winter rig, has been catching me wild and stocked trout. Best time to be on the water is from 11:00 A.M. to about 3:00 P.M. Key to success is having enough weight to bounce the flies off the substrate where the trout are feeding.

Wild Brown trout in the Owens River Gorge are taking nymphs and dry flies.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The upper and middle gorge is now open and nymphing or dry and a dropper is producing wild trout. The road into Control Power Plant remains closed as Department of water and Power continues to repair the access road along Pleasant Valley Reservoir. I think the walk out of upper Gorge Power Plant is easier than middle gorge. Water is flowing around 75 CFS. Wadding and working upstream casting nymphs is the most productive method of fly fishing the gorge right now. I’m using blue wing olive parachutes in size 18, Adams parachutes in size 16 for the dry fly. I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears in size 16.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-07-2023

We are finally having a week without a storm. This weekend the Owens Valley is going to warm up with temperatures reaching into the high 60’s. Great time to get out on the water and fly fish. We are already seeing high flows on the Owens River. It will not be long when all the freestone streams rise due to runoff. For now freestone creeks in the foothills and Owens Valley are offering good fly fishing in clear waters. Fishmas will be on Saturday April 29th. Remember that the Crowley Lake Tributaries, except for the upper Owens River, do not open until the Saturday before Memorial Day.

I cleaned up trash from the banks of Bishop Creek Canal.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road continues to be closed from Pleasant Valley Campground to Five Bridges Road. Flows in the river are over 700 CFS. Way too high for me to be out on the river fly fishing. I might fish the river this summer in the evenings with a caddis adult if the trout will come to the surface.

At 700 CFS the lower Owens River is running bank to bank to make way for the runoff in Crowley Lake.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers are beginning to access the creek now that there have been several days without snow. There is a good trail to the creek from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. The blue wing olive hatch mid-day is bringing trout to the surface. Olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are producing trout before the hatch. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns are producing trout on the surface.

Not very much parking available where the road is not plowed in front of Hot Creek Ranch turn off.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Snowmobile tracks into the canyon section is making it easy to walk out from the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery Road. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout feeding. Nymphs and dries are catching trout. It requires a lot of physical effort to make the hike into the canyon.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed to traffic.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The road to Benton Crossing Bridge is expected to be opening soon as crews have made headway in clearing the snow from the road. No fly fishing report yet until access into the upper Owens opens up.

The canal is running bank to bank and slightly off color, but is still producing trout that are taking blue wing olive nymph patterns.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The creek is running bank to bank with slightly off color water. The trout are feeding on blue wing olive nymphs. There are a few blue wing olives hatching, but the trout are not coming to the surface to feed. Nymphing with olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is producing rainbow and brown trout. The Euro rod continues to be producing trout for me in the slower stretches. The fast water sections I just don’t think I’m getting the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. Thursday afternoon I fire broke out east of the canal and west of the airport. It was contained rather quickly.

Access is closed to the Control Gorge Power Plant at the top of Gorge Road.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The gorge will be opening up on April 7th. Gorge Control Power Plant, north of Pleasant Valley Reservoir continues to be closed. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed until Department of Water and Power can repair the access road.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-31-2023

The Eastern Sierra has been getting snow storms at upper elevations and rain in the Owens Valley since the beginning of November. Mammoth Mountain is reporting a record snow pack of 695 inches at Main Lodge. There is a ton of water up in the mountains. It’s just waiting for it to warm up so that it can turn in to water and fill up the streams and lakes. It’s going to be a huge runoff this year. Road crews throughout Inyo and Mono counties are working on getting all of the snow cleared up. It’s a slow process that gets slowed down every time there is another snow storm. The freestone creeks are running clear and offering good fly fishing opportunities in the foothills and the Owens Valley.

This lake is flowing over Pleasant Valley Dam Road on the way into Pleasant Valley Campground.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Pleasant Valley Dam Road is now open to Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Chalk Bluff Road is open to the cattle grate at the bottom end of Pleasant Valley Campground. City of Los Angeles is pumping water down the Owens River. The spawning channel is flowing like a river once again. Fly fishers can try fishing with streamers or lots of weight on their nymph rigs. Fishing right now is tough and I’m not going to fish in these high flows.

This is the spawning channel at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Dam Road and Chalk Bluff Road.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek Hatchery Road is now open to Hot Creek Ranch. There is enough parking at the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road, end of plowing, for four vehicles. There are no tracks into the interpretive site and there is a four to five foot wall of snow to scale to get on top of the snow to walk out. It is not doable without snowshoes. I’m rating this as inaccessible at this time.

Way out in the background at the base of the hill is the interpretive site buried in four to five feet of snow with a layer of fresh powder on top.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The walk into the canyon section had a trail and was easier then accessing the interpretive site. I saw a number of tourist walking out the trail without snowshoes. I think getting in and out of the canyon is going to require lots of work. Access to the canyon is only for the energetic angler willing to work to get into the canyon to fly fish.

There was one lane plowed as far as I could see on Benton Crossing Road which continues to be closed.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

No access to the upper Owens River as Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed at the Green Church. Road crews are continuing to work on the road, snow storms allowing.

I took advantage of clearing water on the canal to work my trio of Euro nymphs to fool a few browns and this pretty rainbow trout that took a perdigon.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Flows are up and the water was clear enough for me to try fishing for a couple of hours. The faster water sections did not produce any fish. Working the slower pools and flats in the canal produced a nice rainbow on a perdigon. Rainbow trout seem to be suckers for brightly colored flies. Bishop Creek above the canal produced three wild brown trout that took the stoner and the pheasant tail nymph.

Gorge Road is closed to accessing the gorge and control power plant.  

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The road to the gorge is closed and there is no access for fly fishers at this time. Flows in the gorge are running above 500 CFS which is making it unsafe to fly fish in the gorge at this time.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-24-2023

Spring is here. Doesn’t look like it. Snowed in Bishop this week, but did not stick. As the weather warms up the snow will melt and we will be dealing with record snow runoff.  State, County and City road crews are trying to stay up with the snow and deal with all the erosion  damage. The freestone creeks have cleared up and are offering some fly fishing opportunities. Closed roads and high muddy water are effecting a lot of the Eastern Sierra Waters.

I will be at the Fly Fishing Bart Hall Show Friday March 31 and Saturday and Sunday April 1 and 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. I will have flies tied by me including Sierra bright dots and stoner nymphs for sale for those that have been asking for flies from me. I will be doing two presentations, Bishop: The Southern Gateway to Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing, Friday at 6:30, Saturday at 3:30 and Nymphing; Fishing Flies on the Substrate Friday at 3:30, Saturday at 11:30 and Sunday at 10:30. Tuesday Talks with Fred will be presented on Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 1:30.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road and Pleasant Valley Dam Road are still closed. The lower end of the wild trout section is accessible at Five Bridges. City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power needs to make room for all the water that is now locked up in the snow at upper elevations. They will be starting to lower Crowley Lake to make room for the spring runoff. The lower Owens River outflow at Pleasant Valley Dam will be increasing to at least 500 CFS. There may be a day or two where the river clears enough before flows increase for fly fishers to try nymphing or throwing a black wooly bugger.

The lower Owens River is up and expected to rise to 500 to 600 CFS.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek Hatchery Road is still closed at School Road. Fly fishers will have to snow shoe or walk in. This walk in is doable for most fly fishers. Midges and blue wing olive nymphs are flies to be fishing. Fishing pressure is way down right now if you’re willing to hike in.

Hot Creek Hatchery Road at School Road continues to be closed to vehicle access.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers wanting to access the canyon section have a long snowshoe in from School Road on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed as the snow has not been removed and there are three stranded vehicles that need to be removed.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

No fishing on the upper Owens River as Benton Crossing Road continues to be  closed at the Green Church. Road crews have not been able to complete the snow removal and there are three vehicles still stranded on the road. The winter-spring run of rainbows should be just about over for the year.

Flows in Bishop Creek Canal are perfect, but the water will fish better once it clears up a little bit more.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Increased water flows are helping the canal, but the dirty water is not helping the canal. The canal needs to clear up just a bit to make the fly fishing good. Working nymphs on the substrate in the riffle hole transition will produce a fish or two for the fly fisher that diligently covers the water. I’m fishing with the Euro rig with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. This set of flies works for me on the canal all winter long.

Once Gorge Road opens up fly fishers will be able to catch lots of these guy on dries and nymphs..

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The road to the gorge is closed and there is no access for fly fishers at this time.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-17-2023

Last weekend’s rain storms on top of the snow pack at lower elevations played havoc with roads, infrastructure and waterways. Snow at upper elevations added to an already to big snow pack particularly for towns like Mammoth and June Lakes. Department of Water and Power had to deal with an eroded section of the aqueduct south of Olancha. There are several roads closed due to snow pack or sections of dirt roads that eroded away. With all the snow and water runoff from the storms Eastern Sierra waters are slowly recovering from the deluge of last weekend’s Atmospheric River.

The suns out and the mountains have enough snow to fill the lakes and keep the streams flowing all summer.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River in the wild trout section over the weekend hit 1,000 CFS. Pleasant Valley Reservoir spilled over the dam contributing to the increased water flows in the river. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed at HYW 395, but is expected to open. Chalk Bluff Road is closed at both ends of the road due to a washed out sections of the road. No time frame for opening of the road. Fly Fishers wanting to fish the wild trout section will have to walk in. Flows for the weekend are expected to be in the 300 CFS range, but DWP is expecting to increase flows starting on Sunday. Fishing with nymphs in the Five Bridges area will probably produce a few fish for fly fishers working the river from the bank if the river clears by the weekend. Midges, blue wing olive nymphs and black streamers is what I’m planning on trying in the river.

Chalk Bluff Road is closed on both ends due to a section of the road that washed out.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access to Hot Creek is parking at the intersection of Hot Creek Hatchery Road and Airport Road and walking or snowshoeing in. There are lots of foot prints in the snow down Hot Creek Hatchery Road suggesting fly fishers are walking into the creek. The interpretive site is the easier spot to access and fly fish the creek. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing Hot Creek. There are few if any hatches going on. But, I still carry midge and blue wing olive dry flies on the off chance I can fish dries to rising trout.

Foot access only on Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access the Interpretive Site and the canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This section of the creek is going to require maximum effort from fly fishers wanting to fly fish in the canyon. Nymphing with midges, blue wing olive nymphs and throwing streamers will produce trout. With the trout seeing minimal fly fishing pressure this would be a great time to throw an articulated streamer like a gonga, game changers and dungeons for a trophy brown trout in the few deep holes.

Mono County road crews are working on clearing up the roads including Benton Crossing Road.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The Road is stilled closed at the Green Church, HWY 395 and Benton Crossing Road. Mono County road crews are doing their best to clean up the roads from the Atmospheric River that left  snow in Mono County. For the time being no fishing on the upper Owens River. Probably a good thing for the spawning fish to get a break from all the fishing pressure.

Bishop Creek Canal is flowing high and muddy after this last Atmospheric River blasted the Owens Valley.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The Atmospheric River that deluged the Owens Valley swelled and turned the canal waters off color. I’m hoping that by the weekend the water will clear up giving fly fishers one water to fly fish this weekend with vehicle access. Midge nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and olive quilldigons should produce trout once the water begins to clear.

Fly fishers wanting to fish the gorge need to wait until flows drop and access is safe.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

At this time the gorge is unsafe to fish due to access and high water flows.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-10-2023

Winter storms continue to move through the Eastern Sierra. The Blake Jones fishing tournament at Pleasant Valley Reservoir this Saturday March 11th has been postponed tell May due to impending storms this weekend and increased water flows in the lower Owens River. Spring runoff is going to be massive this year and fly fishers coming to the Eastern Sierra need to know that snow runoff can take place from June to July depending on the temperatures in the upper elevations.

I have hired fly fishing guide Richard Lancaster to teach and guide fly fishers in the Eastern Sierra. Richard moved to the Eastern Sierra from the San Luis Obispo area in 2018 to work for Cal Fire and have time to explore the fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. He loves to Euro nymph and likes to stalk carp in the Owens River and Tinemaha Reservoir.

Richard Lancaster fly fishing guide for Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Guides.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

At flows of 330 CFS trout have been taking nymphs fished on the substrate in the slower waters on the edges and in the eddies. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is expected to complete their repair work on Pleasanton Valley Reservoir Dam site by early next week. Upon completion of the repair work the river will be going up to 500 CFS or higher. At these flows fly fishers will have to fish from the banks. Spots with bank access are limited to a few areas in the wild trout section. At these flows I’m pretty much done with fishing the lower Owens River until summer hatches of caddis will bring trout to the surface.

Newly hired Sierra Bright Dot Guide Richard Lancaster about to net a trout on the lower Owens River.

 Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers still have to walk in from Airport Drive. It’s a lot of effort to the creek. For those fly fishers willing to put in the effort to snowshoe into the Interpretive site the wild trout have been feeding on nymphs. I use midges and pheasant tail nymphs on the creek in winter time.

There is still no vehicle access beyond the intersection of Airport Road and Hot Creek Hatchery Road .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

I’m going to say that this area is out for fly fishing for at least another week. It’s too long of a snowshoe hike in to the creek for the average fly fisher. For the energetic outdoors man willing to snowshoe into Hot Creek Canyon I would try fishing nymphs under a dry fly. I would fish with midges and blue wing olive nymphs like an olive quilldigon or pheasant tail nymph.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed to vehicle traffic at the Green Church.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With a pending storm and the road still closed from last week’s storms there is no access to the upper Owens River for fly fishers. The spawning trout definitely need a break from fly fishers during their spawning time.  

Last week’s snow will be replaced by this week’s rain storms on Bishop Cree Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The canal has stabilized from the last storm, but is expected to get one to two inches from this next storm. The storms and snow melt seems to be making the canal rise and flow with dirty water. It’s taking several days for the canal water to stabilize after the storms. I’m Euro nymphing the canal with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs.

No fly fishing in the gorge until this next storm passes through the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Access is limited to due to the amounts of snow in the gorge. With the next storm expected to hit the Eastern Sierra on Thursday night and last through Saturday I think it will be late next week at the earliest to explore fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-03-2023

Every once in a while even Bishop gets a good dump of snow. Once the sun comes out the snow will melt fast. Mono County got buried and there were a few avalanches across HWY 395. Give the town of Mammoth Lakes, Cal Trans and Mono County plow crews a chance to get the snow cleaned up off the roads. I would wait until early to middle of next week to check out upper elevation waters to fly fish.

Bishop covered in a blanket of white from the latest storm..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The river is up to 330 CFS and then will be down to 250 the weekend of March 11th for the Blake Jones Tournament. After the tournament expect to see the flows increase to 350 CFS. Fishing in the river is very limited right now and tough. Even getting nymphs down on the substrate is no guarantee of catching trout. Work your fly patterns in the seams and slower shallow sections. Now is a good time to throw black streamers like a wooly bugger.

Lower Owens River at 300 CFS and with snow on the banks.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery road before driving out to fish the Interpretive site.

No vehicle access beyond the intersection of Airport Road and Hot Creek Hatchery Road .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery Road before trying to park and access the canyon section of Hot Creek. Fly fishers will need snowshoes to access this area. Fishing with nymphs will produce fish for the few fly fishers willing to exert the effort.

Benton Crossing Road is closed to vehicle traffic at the Green Church.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up. Don’t be the like the 17 people that got trapped in their cars during the storm on Saturday February 25, 2023. Trophy trout are in the river, but I would wait tell access to the river via vehicles is open. Nymphing with the Euro rig is my preferred method of fly fishing the river. At times streamers can be very effective.

Dirty high flows are what fly fishers can expect in Bishop Creek Canal until the flows stabilize in four to six days..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

When the river flows increase over 300 CFS it’s time for me to fly fish the canal. From its start at gate 13, the Happy Boulders area, to Big Pine Canal offers good fly fishing with dries, nymphs and streamers. I like fishing my Euro rod or Tenkara rod with euro nymphs. I’ve been fishing the deep holes and the riffle water into the deeper holes with fair success. It’s going to take a few more days for the canal to stabilize. I’m fishing olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs on the Euro rod.

Fly fishers will have to wait for the snow to melt to gain access to Owens River Gorge brown trout.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Like the rest of the Eastern Sierra the Owens River Gorge got snow and it’s tough to access right now. It will be awhile before fly fishers can access this area through Gorge Road. For now I would  take this off the list of accessible fly fishing spots until the snow melts in the next week or so.